The Wildflower Society of Western Australia Inc. (WSWA) was established in 1958 to promote the value of our natural bushland. The Society does this through regular meetings and excursions, native plant sales, bushland plant surveys, book sales, donations, and attendance at relevant events and much more …
Murdoch Branch introduced an additional function to numerous tasks our vibrant community has committed to. We have embarked on cleaning up the Roe 8 Reserve. As part of the national Clean Up Australia Day, on Sunday March 6, 2016, The Murdoch Branch of the Wildflower Society joined forces with Cockburn Council, Rethink the Link Alliance, and the Save Beeliar Wetlands community to clean up the beautiful remnant bushland that is standing proud against the ill-conceived idea of pushing a highway through to soon-out-of-capacity Fremantle Port.
It was the 27th celebration of Clean Up Australia Day an idea initiated by Ian Kiernan that in 1993 gained the support of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) that turned into Clean Up the World Day.
The event went far beyond what participants expected as community neighbours jumped out on the street to offer a helping hand and served chilled drinks in the heat to the hardworking volunteers.
More than fifty members had shown their interest on Facebook to take part in the event. Fifteen people gathered on the ground to clean up the Roe 8 bushland. The youngest, aged 5 and 7, received Certificates of Participation as recognition by Clean Up Australia, as they did persevere till the end of the event with enthusiasm.
Pawel Waryszak, Wildflower Society of WA Murdoch Branch President and the Event Convener, explained what Clean Up Australia Day meant to him: “Clean-Up Australia creates a great community feel. Today I met so many of my neighbours who I would normally not have a chance to talk to”.
“I definitely underestimated the scale of littering in our local bushland. We managed to cover only a quarter of what we planned to do in the two hours allocated to the clean-up”, Pawel concluded.
One of the volunteers, Robin Scott, student at Murdoch University and environmentalist, added enthusiastically: “I came along as I know that dumping off rubbish is a big issue when it comes to the management of bushland in Perth. Clean Up Australia Day lived up to my expectations as I was expecting there to be a lot of rubbish involved”.
Nicole Carey, PhD Candidate in Wetlands Conservation at Murdoch University, who also came to give us a hand said: “I liked that it was an easy way to care for the local environment, while contributing to a national event. A truly fun, social morning”.
Pawel calls for a bigger turnout next year with more community involvement that is much needed in order to conserve our beloved bushland.